The choreography was smooth and the smiles were gracious, but all the same, George W. Bush’s exit from Washington carried a measure of pain.

Not enough to pay him back for all the pain he caused us the last 8 years!Original DVD cover.

The now-former president fulfilled his role flawlessly. He extended his hand again and again to his successor — on the steps of the White House for morning coffee, as they entered a limousine to ride together to the inauguration, on the grandstand in the shadow of the Capitol dome. And before he left the White House for the last time, Bush tucked a private note to Obama into the drawer of the desk in the Oval Office that aides said would convey his warmest wishes for his successor.

Don’t ask me where i got a copy of the letter, kids!

But swirling around Bush throughout the day were sights and sounds confirming that his presidency, which began with great controversy eight years ago, had ended in controversy as well.

Just as demonstrators clogged the barricades to protest his court-mediated victory in the 2000 election, so the disenchanted lined Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday to express their dismay with the way his presidency turned out.

…snip…

And finally, when Bush’s helicopter lifted off from the east front of the Capitol, cheers rose from the crowd and throng stretching down the National Mall.

Perhaps nothing seemed to symbolize the wounded presidency as much as former Vice President Dick Cheney, who attended the inaugural ceremony in a wheelchair, a cane clutched over his knees. Aides said he injured his back moving boxes into his new residence in Virginia.

Bush is famously thick-skinned. But as the morning wore on, his smile appeared to grow more strained.

Perhaps one reason was the unmistakable enthusiasm for his successor, who drew far greater crowds than Bush did to either of his two inaugurals. Or perhaps it was that despite Obama’s repeated thanks and handshakes, many of the words of his inaugural speech must have stung.

“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics,” Obama said.

…snip…

Bush’s inner circle and the Republican faithful express untarnished pride in his accomplishments and frustration that his presidency has been underappreciated. Several dozen White House staffers organized a private send-off for the president in a closed hangar at Andrews Air Force base, at which both the former president and former first lady spoke movingly, according to people familiar with the gathering.

Bush then took off for his childhood home of Midland, Texas, from which he had departed eight years ago for his first inauguration. After a rally with friends and supporters, the Bushes were headed for their ranch near Crawford, Texas, no longer known as the Western White House.

If you guys are interested, NCrissieB did a brilliant post over at the big orange, illustrated by a movie poster i did for her. Just click here. it’s very, very funny!

hey vladislaw!
welcome to the raisin! :D what a nice surprise. i always see you over at diary rescue.

i don’t think it’s possible for deadeye dick to win sympathy. he’s simply unsympathetic. his wife is, too. even when looking at the pics of them holding their new grandchild, people wondered if and/or when they were gonna eat the baby.

nightowl,
now if i could only get sound on here to add all the booing. you couldn’t hear the booing that well on the news channels, but on comedy central tonight, there was a report from john oliver (the funniest guy on the show, imho) where you could clearly hear how loud the boos really were. they could have set up a couple of dunktanks with chimpy in one and deadeye dick in the other where people could throw shoes at them. the national debt could have been paid down in a few hours if they sold tickets to that! :wink:

karen,
i imagine there were millions of middle fingers standing at attention whenever chimpy was in sight, whether in person or on tv. however, chimpy is delusional enough to convince himself they were just waving. he will never accept how reviled he is. in fact, i bet they had to tell the rubes in midland that princess sarah was going to be there so that they would have enough people for a decent photo shoot when chimpy and pickles arrived.

jeb,
i’ve noticed that not too many on tv commented on how obama dissed the hell outta chimpy as the moron sat there and had to take it. it was my very favorite part of the speech. i wished they had kept the camera focused on chimpy, pickles, and deadeye dick as they squirmed in their seats.

are you a lefty, jeb? my nephew is. my mother would have been, had she not been punished for using her left hand when she was a little girl in school.

dusty,
i am the one person in the world who actually felt a little sorry for jeffrey dahmer. of course, i do not approve of what he did, but he seemed like a really flawed individual who knew he was incredibly sick and still couldn’t help himself. unlike other serial killers, i think he actually did feel guilt. with chimpy and deadeye dick, i didn’t feel one iota of compassion or sympathy or empathy. i despise them, and wish them lives as miserable as those of the people whose lives they ruined.

Nonnie, obviously you’ve never been to Midland.
That town is so dull, the whole population would turn out for the grand opening of a Piggly Wiggly.
I’m sure attending Bush’s arrival was just something new to do for those boring Midland $hitkickers.

:lol: i think i’ll take midland off my list of places to go before i die. if chimpy and pickles are considered must-see, then it’s not a place i want to be, even if a brand new piggly wiggly is mighty tempting.